A STORY THAT MAKES ME STAY

by Darlene

All of our students tell their "life stories" to Renee, and I put them in the computer. Tonight I was typing George Lokitoi's story. George came to us in August; he' s from the Turkana tribe, a tribe that lives far north, toward Somalia. His people are nomads, always looking for grazing for herds of goats and cows. It's a hard life, with dangers from lions or raiders from the Pokot tribe. So he ran away and ended up on the streets of Nairobi.

He came to MITS because a fellow street boy told him there was food here. He says he liked the Bible stories (a first for him); his favorite stories were a group -- the lost coin, the lost sheep, and the lost son. When I read that, I felt my heart jump.

Eighteen years ago, Charles and I went with a small group to teach VBS in George's area. Before we went, I interviewed a Turkana man, seeking to present the Bible parables in a way that would draw them to it. With that input, I got a street kid to draw a Turkana woman who had lost a coin. She looks in the grass hut, sweeps with sticks, and finds it. We drew the neighbors who come rejoice with her. For the lost sheep, we had a Masai herder lose a cow and worry about a lion. They jump for joy when it's found. For the lost son, we have a kid who's come into the city and comes to Eastleigh (where our center is).

That said, I was touched (bumps on my arms) because this fits George so well. Just maybe I had that bright idea years ago because Jesus planned to use this to grab George and bring him to Himself and to us. George could feel the diligence with which the woman searches - and recognize it. And the lost sheep/cow -- George ran away because first he had lived through a lion attacking a herd, and when Pokot raiders came and stole two cows from him and whipped him, he couldn't bear to face his father, so he ran away -- he became "lost". And that lost boy came to Nairobi, to us. And he heard Jesus' stories of His love there. I dunno -- but I feel like God used my pictures to bring a lost boy home. This is why I'm here.

HONOR TO GIRLS

WELL DONE, GREAT WOMEN OF MITS

While the writer of Proverbs has much to say about the foolishness of men, his experience also teaches him that some women are hard to live with. In 19:13 he writes of a wife's words that are like "continual dripping of rain." We presume that the rainy season was not a favorite time of his.

Our work in street ministry shows us how hard it is for some women to live together in peace. We have worked hard with street girls to help them recognize how they could 1) get off the streets, 2) take care of themselves, 3) make progress of their lives -- just by several of them living together in an apartment in Mathare Valley or Eastleigh, working when they can, pooling money to pay the rent, and so on. But the girls cannot seem to find agreement; they would rather depend on street guys to give them a place to sleep at night in return for intimacy. They cannot seem to break free of dependence on men, and they can't get along with one another well enough to make it work.

At Kamulu our girls live together in 3 small dorms (maximum 10 girls in a dorm). They do well, but occasionally there are arguments, fights, and even conspiracies against the dorm supervisors. From time to time we have meetings with the girls, let them talk, and teach them more about living in peace. Recently we did a class on communication, listening skills and non-violence. We asked them to practice what they learned, then we gave them an exam a week later.

Four of our girls did very well on the exam, answering questions as well as describing what they practiced during the week. Two of the girls, Eunice Wambui and Mary Waithera, are pictured here. The four girls received an award for their performance. We are proud of them.

A CHAPEL TO REMEMBER

At 8:00 AM each weekday Made in the Streets has chapel. One of the Team or one of the students will pick out 5 songs, ask someone to lead prayer and make a short talk, usually a story with a message at the end. Now and then there is a chapel that you want to make into an eternal moment. Or, as Darlene says, she would like to bottle this chapel and take it out now and then and enjoy it.

Thirteen of our students were back from being away 4 days to take the KCPE (the 8th grade exams in several subjects). Before they went other students had written "success cards" and prayed for them. During chapel they started reporting on their experience, and all of them shared. They said words like "I love you all" and "Thank you to all the teachers" and "Thank you for praying" and "It was hard, but not so hard" and "I'm grateful to my sponsor" and on and on. And all of us felt so great! Then the other students started to share, welcoming the 13 back and saying good things about them, wishing them success.

Taking the KCPE is really special, since most of these kids did not get to public school at all, or maybe one or two years, and they have from 1 to 2 years with us in literacy education. To have prepared for these exams is a great achievement.

I love these kids, and this is a moment with them that I could enjoy forever. With their attitude and confidence, they will make it. They will not return to the streets, and they will be able to find work, and they will have families. Praise God for this ministry, and for all those who support it. Pat yourself on the back - good job!

New People in Kamulu

THREE COME FOR BAPTISM

An exciting day for the Kamulu Church. Brian Ochieng, a MITS student who comes early every Sunday morning to set up the chairs for worship, Evans Wambua, another MITS student, and Mercy Wanjiru, a teenager who has been attending worship for about a year chose to be baptized into Jesus.

Just One More

A long time ago I heard a Tennessee preacher named Ira North talk about evangelism. He asked how many we should try to reach, and the answer was "just one more." And why that one? Because of the value of every life. He went on to say that he would swim the Cumberland River, he would climb Outlook Mountain to reach her, if that one more were his little daughter.

We have one more girl at Kamulu, a treasure from the streets. And she has come in time for the December Holidays -- that's a smart move on her part. Of course she doesn't know what a good time we have planned for the kids who live with us, to make them feel special, to give them new experiences!

Anastacia is 15. She seems glad to be at Kamulu. She speaks some English already and the other kids like her. She started out right away singing in chapel, and she is in the beginning literacy class for now. She also arrived in time to be in the class hearing the reading and retelling of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. We will have more info about her later. If there is someone who wants to sponsor her, she is available. So we have another one to call our own, and we will go to great lengths to find kids like Anastacia, like brave the Mathare River and climb Mt. Longonot.

Climbing Mountains

My family and I recently climbed Mt. Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa. It was difficult and challenging to make it to the top. We needed encouragement, assistance and advice to help us succeed in reaching the top of point Lenana. There were times when it was painful, exhausting and joyful. I fell down several times and then got back up again to strive towards the goal of reaching Lenana. We hired a guide to keep us on the right path. We hired porters to help us carry our heavy bags. People have attempted to climb the mountain only to fail, get injured or even die on Mt. Kenya. It is a risky adventure. We could not do this alone.
We needed the right equipment. We needed warm clothes due to the freezing temperatures experienced at the high elevation. We needed flashlights to light our path because the final ascent is done at night. The guide offered advice and feedback so that we could succeed. He offered his walking stick so I wouldn’t fall so often. His experience and skill helped him to help us to succeed. He has walked the path numerous times helping others to succeed in reaching the top. I experienced a lot of pain in my ankles as I climbed. Hollye got some very painful blisters on her feet. Micah’s hip was painful during the trek. Andrew was fighting malaria. Andrew and Micah encouraged Hollye and I not to give up although we wondered at timesif the trip was worth the pain.

We succeeded in reaching our goal. It was an exciting time when we reached the top. There were others who had reached the peak as well and we all rejoiced with one another. There were times when we needed lots of help from others. There were times we needed to hear someone say to us that we can make it. There were times I had to turn and ask the guide if I was on the right path or not. Reaching the summit wasn’t easy, there were lots of challenges but we rejoiced together when we all made it to the top.

A few years ago a climber attempted to climb Mt. Kenya

alone. He got lost along the way and eventually died somewhere on Mt. Kenya. His body was never found. Just imagine the desperation, fear and despair he must have experienced realizing he was all alone and perishing.

Now, imagine yourself a teenager, all alone on the frightening streets of Nairobi. There is no place to sleep safely or eat healthily. The streets are scary with violence and danger all around. Just imagine the fear, desperation and despair these youngsters must feel as they wonder if they are perishing.
At Made in the Streets we encourage kids living on the streets to reach their goals. They need help. The teenagers sometimes fall down and need encouragement to get up. Charles (or “Chizi” – crazy) was living in a broken down truck and going down the wrong path. He spent his days begging and collecting scrap metal in order to buy marijuana and glue to sniff to ease his discomfort. In his high states he was hit by motorist and another time bitten by police dogs. The path he was on was leading to destruction and despair. He needed our help to get him back on the right path. All of the kids living on the streets have experienced terrible pain in their lives. Many have buried

both of their parents. All have been abused. All have been misled by others. There are times when they don’t eat for long periods of time. What they do eat comes out of the trash heap or someone may offer them small amounts of leftovers. It is a very painful existence.

Anastacia was not equipped to succeed. She had dropped out of school and was living in poverty. After the death of her mother, she spent her days in the streets. She needed training and skills to reach her goals.

Made in the Streets equips children with a normal education,
skills to be employed, and the gospel of Jesus. She has completed her education and is now in journalism school studying to become a reporter. She has given her life to Jesus and has been baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of her sins.
Thank you for your part in helping to lead these precious children to the Guide, who will show them the path of righteousness
and truth and encourage them

on their journey to the Mountain of the Lord.

by Larry Conway

NEW BABY AT MITS!

Very exciting, and scary! Paulyne Adhiambo was taken to hospital Saturday night, and the doctors thought she would give birth before morning. But there was a problem, an finally the doctors asked her about surgically bringing the baby. She didn't really want to and was scared of surgery (a lot of these kids have never even been to a doctor and are frightened of everything connected with them).

The doctors told her, "The baby is getting tired," so she finally consented. They performed the surgery yesterday, and we have another baby girl. We don't know yet whether there was fetal stress or any complications, but both seem okay. A few minutes ago Augustina (who works at the Eastleigh Center as a cook and a sort of grandmother to the girls) was going to get water and take it to her. Even the water at the hospital isn't safe to drink! But in spite of the problems, the staff there does a good job.

So rejoice with us. And please ask God to bring life and joy to this baby, who will never have to live on the streets.

Multiple Assemblies at Kamulu

It's a peaceful and quiet rainy Sunday afternoon; I think I need a nap. After church we invited our MITS intern over for lunch, with burritos and raw veggies and apples with peanut butter. Then it started to rain again.

This morning when I went down to the MITS Learning Center to make coffee and set up my classroom, Brian Ochieng was already there setting up chairs and putting out song books for the worship. Later when it was time for class to begin, rain had come, so we undid Brian's work and put the chairs back in the Bible room. Then class met in the chapel room. We had a great class of 36 people, even 3 babies; with rain drumming on the roof, we had group discussions on 2 Timothy 2.

Often there are many in rural areas who stay home from church when it rains, and sometimes with us, especially since we meet outside. We kept our class and a few others in chapel, and Joel and others started worship in the Bible room. So, all of a sudden Kamulu had multiple services, and ours were simultaneous. Francis Wahome, one of our older students, led songs in the chapel room, while Joel Njue led in the Bible room. Francis Mbuvi preached his sermon after a couple of songs in the chapel room, while they sang in the Bible room. Then the children went out to Sunday school, and Jackton led the communion in the Bible room. After the

sermon, Francis went across the courtyard, and Jackton came to the chapel room for the Lord's Supper.

It worked out really well, so now we have a plan on rainy mornings. And we had 123 people, only about 10 fewer than usual. Besides that, we had 9 babies and 7 toddlers in church today. Since we have a single moms program, and our Team members have married and have children, 11 of them are our own. But that means 5 are from the community.

We honored one of our older students today for his service in the church. Francis Cugia has led in worship in prayer and the Lord's Supper for several years and has been a spiritual encouragement to younger kids. Here is his latest school picture. He is now in an internship in carpentry in the city.

New Life, New Experience

It's a relaxed day...Saturday...MITS students are washing clothes, cleaning the property, looking forward to playing soccer in the afternoon. It rained all night. We've washed the car and cleaned it, and we're not expecting to drive it in the mud. At least, not today.

The phone rings, and it is Moses, our IT man and computer teacher. He wants to borrow the car - after all, I am like Dad to the Team. But it's not for himself. One of the girls needs to go to the hospital. She's in labor, or something, he says. He is the only driver around, and the other vehicles are being used. In a few minutes Moses is at the house, and this is a new experience for him. I make him nervous by asking what he will do if baby is born in the car.

It's Paulyne Adhiambo, admitted to the single moms' program in late September. So Moses and Irene take her to Pumwani Maternity Hospital and check her in. The doctor says she will have the baby by morning, so she should stay. Now Moses gets another new experience. He goes to the store to buy all the things a baby needs -- blanket and oil and shampoo and diapers, none of which the hospital has.

So in a few hours MITS will have another new life among us, someone to love and teach so that he/she will never be "on the streets." And Moses knows what to do next time.